A rive of sorrow at Dombivli, Panvel

Fadnavis announces ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for the next of kin of deceased, ₹50,000 for those injured

- HT Correspondents

MUMBAI AND PUNE: A day after 26 people were gunned down by terrorists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in a coordinated effort with the Central government, the state government arranged for three special flights to bring back the mortal remains of six tourists—four from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and two from Pune—and evacuate stranded tourists from Srinagar. While the state disaster management cell is collating the number of tourists stuck in the Valley, the chief minister's office (CMO) put out a list of 83 tourists, some of them stuck due to a landslide which occurred on Sunday, who will be flown back in special flights on Thursday, under the watch of Union minister Murlidhar Mohol.

While relief and rehabilitation minister Girish Mahajan is in Srinagar to ensure their smooth travel, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹5 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.

"This is a heinous crime, aimed at dividing society on religious lines. I am confident the government, under PM Narendra Modi, will give a befitting reply," said Fadnavis.

On Wednesday afternoon, friends and well-wishers of the deceased had gathered outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), awaiting the twin Air India flights to bring home bodies of their loved ones. Amid tight police security and presence of state ministers, as ambulances carrying the mortal remains drove out of the premises, relatives tried hard to remain composed as they completed necessary paperwork.